Sinful Negotiations

by Kristal Dawn Harris

Lies.
Danger.
Desire.
Domination.
One man is her protector. One man is her kidnapper.

FBI Agent Aidan Cross knows better. She’s his suspect’s niece, but the tension between them is intense and the passion uncharted. The undercover mission and his heart are on the line. He refuses to let Tessa James go, jeopardizing the case as an outside threat encircles them. When the enemy finally catches up, will he survive? Will time allow another chance with the woman who holds his heart in her palm?

Tessa James needs to end the secret office romance with her boss before it destroys his chance to form a merger with her uncle’s company. When Aidan Cross bends the rules and becomes someone else, will her heart survive? When she’s kidnapped by an attractive foe, can she resist? Everything she knows has been a lie.

Alliances are tested and hearts are shattered in Sinful Negotiations…a forbidden love, steamy office, FBI undercover, romantic suspense with graphic situations, kidnapping, non-consensual intimacy, and high heat.

Genres: Romance, Suspense, Contemporary

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2023

About the author

Kristal Dawn Harris is a multiple award-winning, RONE nominated, American romance author. She has been married for 32 years and has two children. Kristal finished a degree from Miami University in Accounting Technology, but quickly realized she preferred words over numbers. She is an avid reader and, in particular, loves darker paranormal romance.

FROM THE AUTHOR

I like it hot, so expect graphic intimacy along with a great story. Sometimes, I ride the darker edge...lol, and I tend to story tell at a fast pace. My books are designed for adult romance readers who like naughty, sexy, alpha heroes, and my books come in different lengths.

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking to indulge in a sizzling romantic suspense that’ll burn your fingertips? This is the book for you. There’s nothing I love more than a hot romantic suspense and this one I couldn’t put down. A well-plotted romantic suspense with intriguing characters, an office romance, industry spying, corruption, and a villain who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The plot unfolds at a rapid pace, yet the narration filled in all the details needed. Suspense and mystery played a vital role in the ambiance of the story. Well, plus the dark HOT romance. The pacing was fast, but it had to be to increase the intrigue.

The characters are what make this such an addictive read. From the first page til the last, I couldn’t get enough. Even the villain wove a spell around my heart. Each character had their own personality and distinct voice. The originality of the characters had me whipping through the pages.

The romance is a mash-up of various tropes. There’s a love triangle here but it’s unlike any I’ve read before. The heat between the main characters was blistering and had a dangerous edge. The intimacy was at times violent so if you are sensitive, please consider this your warning. Like the title implies, there was a lot of give and take in this romance.

A brilliant erotic romantic suspense I couldn’t stop reading. I strongly recommend this book!

Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[JAsteamybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC for an honest review.

1. This romantic suspense is complicated.
2. There are multiple players, and undercover personas...again #1.
3. This is a dark romance in that it deals with nonconsensual oral sex and kidnapping.
4. The villain is hot.
5. This is erotic romantic suspense, so the heat level is on high.
6. There is violence including guns, death, and beatings.

I enjoyed the book. The plot is interwoven throughout the story. You learn a bit here and there. Aidan is an FBI Agent undercover. Tessa, our heroine, is an accountant and younger by the details given although the author doesn't state her age.

The story starts off in a steamy office romance where Tessa, our heroine, thinks she's involved with her boss and wants to end it due to familial connections. Our hero is not what he seems. He took the place of his brother. The case is in trouble due to his relationship with Tessa, but the heroine ends up in trouble herself. As the story developed, I learned more about both characters and there was a deepening of their romance. The villain is introduced earlier, but you don't know he's the villain until he kidnaps Tessa. I have to say Marco is delicious until their last few interactions. The only con I have with the book is Tessa's inability to escape, but in all fairness, there's no way she could get away due to her uncle's deviousness and the villain. Tessa asks for the truth repeatedly, but they don't have all the details until it's too late. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and realistic right down to Tessa's need for time for herself. If you're looking for a sweeter romance, this isn't it, although the ending has a sweeter tone with an HEA.

Notable mention for Lexxa, our hero's partner and FBI agent. I'd like to see a second book with her story.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prologue was an intriguing start. Aidan and Tessa have been having an office affair when we start the story. He's her boss but what she doesn't know is that he is an FBI agent on an undercover assignment. Aidan keeps her at a distance because he is getting too involved with his suspects niece. Tessa's angst stems from knowing she shouldn't get involved with a man who is her boss and doesn't want to let her in. Still these two can't resist each other.

The story really picked up for me when the true villain entered the scene. The action really picked up and had me wondering how would it end and would there be a betrayal.

The story has no shortage of sexy scenes. It is written in 3rd person pov.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ingrid Vermeulen-Quakernaat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was a slow start focusing on Aiden and Tessa's relationship and their hot, sneaky encounters between him as boss and her as employee.
Slowly the story becomes grim where it is unclear what the role of everyone is in the story until the moment when Tessa is kidnapped and Aiden is left badly injured.

Tessa has been given as currency to a vicious criminal who has plans for her. Trapped and closed off from the world, Tessa no longer knows what is true, but feels the attraction between her and Marco. But Aiden is never out of her mind.

How does Aiden avoid losing the woman who stole his heart? How does he prevent her from marrying Marco against her will? Can he and his FBI associates prevent this? And how does he keep her alive long enough to tell her he loves her?

Great story with unexpected twists leading to an HEA.
Tessa, a strong woman who has had to fight all her life for what she wants, sees almost everything taken from her. But true love conquers all
Highly recommended!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lola · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover appealed, the blurb appealed but for me this didn't deliver. I found the plot super confusing from the offset. We have 'Aidan' an undercover FBI agent masquerading as an overbearing boss and Tessa....yes now, Tessa. I have truly no idea about her. I feel no more clued in on her character after finishing this than I did at the beginning. Her open words are 'I want answers 'Aidan' and after finishing this, so do I Tessa, so do I.....

I honestly felt nothing for these characters although I really, really tried. There is a convoluted plot - around 75% through the book we meet a dangerous Spanish criminal and discover some information about Tessa and her heritage that still doesn't make much sense to me.

The book is well written but lacked that certain flair that gets me hooked. Others may love it, I am, sadly, not one of them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kirsten Van Hooland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A steamy novel, with an amazing and thrilling story. I am head over heels for Alex. He is the example of “rough on the outside, soft on the inside”. He definetly gives off strong alpha-vibes. Tessa is such a strong woman. She didn’t had it easy with everything that happened to her, but in the end she overcame it all and had the happy ending she deserved!
It did bothered me a little that everything was written in a third persons POV, except the dialogues. But nevertheless, it was hard to stop reading.
3⭐️
recommendation if you love: sexy undercover FBI-agent, work-romance, touch her and you die, a lot of smut and a dominant MMC.
Thanks to Booksprout for giving me a copy of this ARC!

[SpeedReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense! 🫣

This was a great book. It had tons of action, an unusual romantic arc (with lots of steam) and a great ending. If you love a good action story with equal equal parts dramatic, angsty romance, then this is the book for you.

Pros:
- well-written characters
- a fantastic action arc throughout the entire book
- lots of steam & (love/hate) romance
- hard-earned HEA

Cons:
- bit too angsty for me
- Tessa having to be kept in the dark so much

Ratings (out of 5)
Story/Plot: 📖📖📖📖
Characters: 🫂🫂🫂
Angst/Drama: 😰😰😰😰
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
HEA? ✔️
Re-readable? ✔️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Polli.p · Rating 4 out of 5]

At one level this book is a young woman being used as a pawn in an underworld game, on another it is a mystery/thriller, but over all this is an steamy and explosive romance! Wow! The sex and sexual tension between Tessa and Aiden is off the charts! They are a perfect match and I was so happy that when all the violence was over and the secrets were revealed we still had a hae!
My only criticism would be that I felt it was a bit slow to start but don't let that put you off. This is a really good read and well worth waiting for it to bite - you won't be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[WHreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scorching Hot!

Author Harris holds nothing back in Sinful Negotiations. I think smoke rose from my tablet a few times. Lol FBI Agent Cross took on three identities in this story of betrayal, espionage, lies, love, and surviving a kidnapping. Marco is delicious until he isn't. Tessa is so strong. I like the bond established between the H & H. Marco is introduced early, but at 65% the book gets sinful for sure. If you like angst and suspense, you'll love it.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written romantic suspense with strong characters and an intriguing storyline. The author does a great job pulling you in with all the suspense, a kidnapping and the sizzling hot romance and had me glued to the pages reading. She moves the story fluidly with her descriptive writing and perfectly painted scenes and delivers a terrific story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Silje · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you can read in one sitting, I certainly did! It first grabs you with the spicy relationship of the main characters, then the steady build-up of suspense, and finally, the intense psychological warfare of the kidnapping. It didn't get boring at any point.

The writing is good, the characters are layered, and the story is somewhat unpredictable. The relationship between the main character is already well on the way when we are introduced to them, but that just means we can dive right into the steamy scenes. There's also a sweet side to their connection that shows in the slower parts of the book. The kidnapping situation gave me 365 Days vibes, but the psychological aspect of it is much more prominent here.

SPOILER UP NEXT.
The only thing that bothered me a bit, is the whole concept of trading off another person as payment for a debt. No matter how many books I read where this happens, I struggle to believe in this part of the story. Human trafficking I get, but selling a family member is harder to make believable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lacey Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dynamics, the idea, the follow through of this book is absolutely PERFECT. A tangled romance that has so many turns and twists make it a MUST READ. Blown away and was on my knees begging for more! Love love this book, impeccably done!

[A Del Sonno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi I enjoyed reading “Sinful Negotiations” very intriguing. I loved reading this book by Kristal Dawn Harris.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Courtney Vandyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful and so well written. It had suspense, romance, family drama, character growth and a fantastic ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The characters were realistic the story was believable and the the chemistry between the main characters was palpable. I’d recommend to anyone looking for a somewhat suspenseful naughty but lovey romance that has a darker story line like being kidnapped and held against your will 😅

Overall a great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner steamy without being too much. Sexual with heart and kept you interested. Now I want Aidan and Lexxa's story or stories. lol.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ash Juillet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was good, but it did feel a bit dragged on. I hadn't read any reviews of the book, but I still knew just who the villain would be - and I was right! If the author had placed some red herrings, it would have been different, but I love it when I'm proven right in books like these.

The smut was great, very vivid, and definitely showed me that there was an emotional connection between Aidan and Tessa, which they were trying to ignore but failing miserably at.

The author could have received five stars from me if she had added more drama in the middle of the story instead of surprising us with it near the end of the book. The drama only began after 66% of the story was finished, and the major adrenaline-inducing scenes happened after 87% of the book was over. And it only lasted for three pages. It felt like it was just thrown in as an afterthought. I would have liked to read about how Aidan mentally reacted when he saw Tessa after so long. That scene only had one line, which felt strange to me.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who love office smut, undercover smut, a bit of noncon, and a romantic HEA.

[Amber Keehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without giving away spoilers, I will come right out and say this is not an MFM romance or in any way a love triangle. So do not go into this book expecting this type of storyline (which I kind of did based on the blurb). However, outside of that misunderstanding the book was pretty solid and had an interesting enough storyline to keep the reader engaged. Tessa was bright, resilient and took no BS when it came to her desires or her heart. And Aiden was quintessential, tormented FBI torn between his duty and the woman he was falling for- the book told their story really well. There was a lot of angst, secrets and even some betray they had to go through to get to their HEA. And then the inevitable kidnapping that was foretold in the blurb happened, that added the darker elements to the book that would draw in even more readers. For a book that was not very long, it had a pretty packed storyline but did so with grace. Also a standalone which I'll never complain about- five well earned stars!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Happyscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn Kristal Dawn Harris - you had me at Aiden... Sinful Negotiations will have you working for the payoff in the story - there are a few challenges that differentiate this story in +ive and -ive ways:

😳 There are multiple characters and players we have to get to know and keep track of through the deceptions and mystery
🤨 This makes the romantic arc more complicated - but still effective and alluring
🥰 The villain is off the charts HOT - antiheroes are my thing at the moment
💋 Erotic with high-steam level smut
💥 Triggers around weapons, death and usual "bad-guy" tools

I liked that it was a quick and punchy read - but would love more of these characters now that I've invested in getting to know them!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Char Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex an FBI agent goes undercover as his twin brother after his brother is beaten severely because he refuses to sell or merge the family company.When they hire Tessa James he's not sure if she's there to spy for her uncle or if she isn't involved in his criminal actions. What starts out as a fling which crosses the line in business an his career as an undercover FBI. agent.there is action danger,hot sex and love.I can hardly wait to see what's next by this multi talented author.

[SBee Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ “Secrets are temptation.” “Then we play a game of temptation, Mr. Cross.” ★

—>>> Sexy agent undercover, hot and steamy office affair, suspense and intrigue kept me turning the pages of this story. It takes a bit to dig into, but once I was there, I was hooked. Nothing was what it seemed, and nothing was easy to believe. Except for the undeniable chemistry between Aiden and Tessa. Loved it and look forward to more stories from this author!

[Natasna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars
So I am a dark romance reader and I can say that this was really not dark romance for me, but I did enjoy the story plot and where it was going. I have not read a FBI romance nor have I ever read from this author so it was a change for me and I will say that I would read more from her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jarylynn Schlegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing from beginning to end. The twists and turns are unexpected and captivating. The chemistry between Mr Cross and Tessa is blazing hot. The story line is fabulous. There are so many emotions you feel through the book and the characters, it is hard to put down. Highly recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Kristal Dawn Harris; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story is about Tessa & Aidan; he’s an FBI agent that’s working undercover; she’s his suspect’s niece.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aiden is an FBI agent which is working undercover, and Tessa is the suspect’s niece. This is a well written fast paced story, which has danger, suspense, twists, tension, passion, secrets, mystery, intrigue, and is a steamy and forbidden romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alex Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, riveting read from Kristal Dawn Harris. Deliciously dark and dangerous. Great characters, and a well written storyline. Would recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a bit slow in the beginning for me but it moved past that. The story is full of suspense, action, drama. The characters are likeable and fit well together. Overall a good book.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[SEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story captured my attention from the start. The intrigue, unexpected twists and suspense had me turning the pages as the characters make their moves. This one sizzles from start to finish. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sinful story that was perfect to get lost in as you dive into this suspenseful romance that ignites the pages of Aiden and Tessa's tale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinful Negotiations - By: Kristal Dawn Harris. This is a great book with many twisted and turn. This is office romance with the FBI. This is about Mr.Cross and Tessa. Read to find out what happened.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.